Marion Town Planner Gil Hilario informed the Planning Board on November 4 that he has submitted an application for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) grant to fund a self-evaluation of town facilities and an accompanying transition plan to move Marion closer to ADA compliance and handicap accessibility. October was a busy month for Hilario […] Read more »
The Rochester Planning Board is preparing to wrap up two prominent agenda listings come January: the solar farm project proposed for Middleboro Road and the Repurpose Properties age-restricted housing development slated for Rounseville Road beside Plumb Corner. On November 12, the board discussed the Middleboro Road solar farm proposal filed by Pedro Rodriguez of Solar […] Read more »
During a November 12 emergency meeting of the Marion Board of Health, Town Administrator Jay McGrail was present to advise the board to rescind its November 5 vote condemning a house on Wianno Road. “I’m concerned about the order that you placed on the property,” said McGrail. McGrail said that after he was made aware of […] Read more »
Marion Public Health Nurse Kathleen Downey says adults in the Tri-Town have begun to contact her concerned about Tri-Town teens presenting with signs of nicotine addiction. Downey initially introduced this topic to the Board of Health last week when she said, “I’ve had multiple conversations with parents at flu clinics and at my office concerned […] Read more »
Tabor Academy announced on November 6 that it has changed its mind about moving forward with the controversial demolition of a historic house known locally as the Tenbrook House, and will instead welcome ideas for alternatives and consider any viable options to renovate or repurpose the structure. Designed by prominent architect, and summer resident of […] Read more »
In its quest to reduce and perhaps eliminate tobacco and nicotine use among its constituents, the Marion Board of Health met on November 5 to consider capping the number of tobacco sales licenses in town, which was followed by a discussion on why the board may act to take the ban on e-cigarette and vaping […] Read more »
The home that sustained fire damage at 91 Sarah Sherman Road will be reconstructed with the support of the Rochester Conservation Commission. The Commission met on November 5 with property owner Ryan Correia, who was represented by Nyles Zager of Zenith Consulting Engineers of Lakeville. The applicant filed a Notice of Intent for the reconstruction […] Read more »
Rochester property values have increased, which means the tax rate will go down for fiscal year 2020. The Rochester Board of Selectmen on November 4 met with the Board of Assessors for the annual tax rate classification hearing, and adhered to the assessors’ recommendation that Rochester keep a single rate rather than a split rate. […] Read more »
The November 4 Fall Special Town Meeting in Mattapoisett was set after a citizen’s petition was submitted proposing amendments to the Medical Marijuana Bylaws already in place. The amendments, if carried, would have allowed the cultivation of marijuana destined not only for medical use, but also for recreational adult use. The zoning bylaw amendments would […] Read more »
Rochester is preparing for its next solar array farm, this time on 32 acres of land off Old Middleboro Road and Walnut Plain Road. The project proposed by Solar MA Project Management, LLC would be the eighth solar energy development in Rochester, and the largest so far with an energy generating capacity of five megawatts […] Read more »